William Ford Nichols (June 9, 1849 – June 5, 1924) was the second Bishop of California in The Episcopal Church.[1]
The Right Reverend William Ford Nichols | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of California | |
 | |
| Church | Episcopal Church |
| Diocese | California |
| Elected | February 6, 1890 |
| In office | 1893–1924 |
| Predecessor | William Ingraham Kip |
| Successor | Edward L. Parsons |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 4, 1873 (deacon) June 4, 1874 (priest) by John Williams |
| Consecration | June 24, 1890 by John Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 9, 1849 |
| Died | June 5, 1924 (aged 74) San Francisco, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | Charles H. & Margaret E. Nichols |
| Spouse |
Clara Quintard (m. 1876) |
| Previous post(s) | Coadjutor Bishop of California (1890-1893) |
| Education | Berkeley Divinity School |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
Early life and education edit
William Ford Nichols was born in Lloyd, New York, on June 9, 1849, to Charles Hubert Nichols and Margaret Emilia Grant. He studied at Trinity College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1870. He then graduated from Berkeley Divinity School in 1873 with a Bachelor of Divinity, and a Master of Arts from Kenyon College in 1888.[2][3]
Ordained ministry edit
Nichols served as private secretary to Bishop John Williams of Connecticut between 1871 and 1876. He was ordained deacon on June 4, 1873, and priest on June 4, 1874, at Holy Trinity Church. He was initially assistant at Holy Trinity Church in Middletown, Connecticut, from 1873 until 1875. In 1875 he became rector of St James’ Church in West Hartford, Connecticut, and Grace Church in Newington, Connecticut, while in 1877 he took charge of Christ Church in Hartford, Connecticut. Later, between 1887 and 1890 he was rector of St James’ Church in Philadelphia. He was also professor of church history at Berkeley Divinity School from 1885 to 1887.[4]
He married Clara Quintard on May 18, 1876.[2]
Episcopacy edit
Nichols was elected Assistant Bishop of Ohio on June 13, 1888, however he declined the election. He was then elected Coadjutor Bishop of California on February 6, 1890, during a special diocesan convention, and was consecrated on June 24, 1890, by Presiding Bishop John Williams at St James’ Church in Philadelphia. He succeeded as diocesan bishop on April 7, 1893, upon the death of Bishop Kit.[5] He was instrumental in acting on behalf of the Presiding Bishop in the transfer of the Church of Hawaii to the Episcopal Church in 1902. Nichols died in office at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco on June 5, 1924.[6]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Bishop W. F. Nichols: Had Served in California for More Than Thirty Years". The New York Times. June 6, 1924. p. 17.
- ^ a b Johnson, Rossiter; Brown, John Howard, eds. (1904). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. VIII. Boston: The Biographical Society. Retrieved May 20, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "WILLIAM FORD NICHOLS". Grants and Their Relatives: 53. 1926.
- ^ "NICHOLS, William Ford". Who's Who in America. 12: 2313. 1923.
- ^ The Living Church Annual 1944, pgs. 380-381
- ^ "Death Calls Aged Bishop as He Sleeps". San Francisco Examiner. June 6, 1924. p. 7. Retrieved May 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.